Photo: John Giustina / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Visitors at a zoo in Shanwei, China, were outraged to discover that the "pandas" they had been admiring were actually dogs painted to look like the famous bears. The trick was uncovered when one of the supposed pandas began panting and barking, with video footage showing the disguised dog lying on a rock. Another dog, sporting a long, curly tail, was also seen strolling around the enclosure.
The zoo initially defended the deception, claiming the animals were a breed of "panda dogs," but later admitted they had simply dyed two chow chows. Visitors demanded refunds after realizing the truth, and the incident drew attention to a similar scam at Taizhou Zoo earlier this year, where chow chows were also disguised as pandas. Zoo officials in both cases faced backlash for attempting to deceive the public.
